Lucky dog survives being trapped under a dock

Wayne T. Price, FLORIDA TODAY , WTSP4:28 PM. EDT October 03, 2016

Max, a mixed breed dog who lives in Satellite Beach, probably owes his life to Chad Locke, a firefighter/EMT with Brevard County Fire Rescue. Locke was able to save Max Sunday morning when the canine got trapped under a dock near Aruba Court. (Photo: Provided)

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. -- Max, a mixed-breed dog that went missing Saturday night in Satellite Beach, owes a lot to Chad Locke of Brevard County Fire Rescue Station 62.

After being alerted to a dog desperately whimpering under a dock near Aruba Court in Satellite beach Sunday morning, Locke, a firefighter/EMT, jumped in the water and found a scared Max clinging to a piece of plywood. Locke was able to get a leash on Max and then swim him to safety.

Some neighbors in the area told BCFR that Max went missing Saturday night. The names of Max's owners were not disclosed. Officials said the neighbors who called BCFR were unsure when the dog went into the water.

"They don't know how long he was under the dock," said Scott Gardiner, a BCFR spokesman.

The neighbors took Max, who didn't have tags, and walked him around the neighborhood and eventually found the owners.

Locke is a 13-year veteran of BCFR.

Contact Price at 321-242-3658 or wprice@floridatoday.com. You can also follow him on Twitter @Fla2dayBiz.